Your Child’s US Passport

Applying for a child's passport is different from applying for your own. Children under 16 cannot renew, both parents usually have to be there and one missing photocopy can put the whole application on hold. This kit walks you through it one page at a time so you get it right the first time.

Start by finding your situation: both parents present, one parent absent, sole custody, a parent you cannot reach or neither parent able to attend. Then use the checklists to gather every document, write the right checks and plan backward from your trip date. Checked against the State Department's own guidance in October 2026.

**What's included**

- Which situation are you in? Every parent and custody case with the form it needs

- Timeline planner with routine, expedited and urgent options

- Document checklist with originals and photocopies

- Fee worksheet with how to pay each fee

- Passport photo at home checklist with a true size check box

- DS-3053 checklist and note for the parent who cannot come

- Appointment day checklist and tracking log

- Before you fly abroad checklist

9 pages, US Letter PDF, instant download. For personal use. A planning aid, not legal advice.